In this series of 10 short blogs – which will issue in rapid succession – I will consider in turn the top themes that have emerged from 50 interviews with teachers, leaders, policy-makers, academics and other from across and beyond the English FE system. Each blog will end with a question which I hope will generate debate on LinkedIn, where the blogs are signposted.
The core question considered has been “what might be the features of a self-improving FE system?” Interviewees have also considered the key features of the FE system as it stands, and what is holding it back from being self-improving.
The theme most commonly mentioned is trust. The main contention from interviewees has followed this pattern:
- A self-improving system requires a high degree of openness to make it work
- Openness requires trust
- Trust in the system at the moment is not high
- Therefore we cannot become a self-improving system unless we first have trust.
